"The spoon theory is a disability metaphor used to explain the reduced amount of energy available for activities of daily living and productive tasks that may result from disability or chronic illness. Spoons are an intangible unit of measurement used to track how much energy a person has throughout a given day. Each activity requires a given number of spoons, which will only be replaced as the person "recharges" through rest. A person who runs out of spoons has no choice but to rest until their spoons are replenished.

One of the tenets of the spoon theory is that many people with disabilities or chronic illness must carefully plan their daily activities to conserve their spoons, while most people without any disabilities or chronic illnesses do not need to worry about running out.[1] Because healthy people do not feel the impact of spending spoons for mundane tasks such as bathing and getting dressed, they may not realize the amount of energy expended by chronically ill or disabled people to get through the day.[2]

Spoons are widely discussed within autoimmune, disability, and other chronic illness communities,[3][4] but the concept of spoons is otherwise considered a neologism. The term Spoonie is sometimes used to refer to a person with a chronic illness that can be explained with the spoon theory.[2]"

[Even as it was happening to me, I couldn't understand it, grasp it -- never mind try to explain it to anyone else -- (even nearest & dearest) who witnessed it! 😳 😬 😂 Can't imagine anyone who's never experienced, observed, or heard about it to truly grasp it.]